In The Rain
CHAPTER 17
Today the star woke up later than usual, he put on his coat and went down to the kitchen to grab a cup of coffee before starting work in his study. Gemintang saw Heny humming while washing the dishes. “Good morning. You look so happy.”
“Raden breakfast a lot,” replied Heny with a beaming face.
Starry smiling. “He's up and gone?”
“Ya.” Heny let out a cry while looking at the back door. The starry stepped into the back door while sipping coffee. As Raden stood beside one of the best horses of the Thunder family, he spoke to Adit.
Then the Star saw Raden jump up on the saddle, his long legs stretched out on the horse's body, and he corrected the position of his feet wearing boots. The stallion pranced around before Raden pulled the rope firmly, after thanking Adit, Raden and his horse raced towards the field leading to the highway.
The star looked at him as far as his eyes could see. Raden's black hair shimmered in the morning sun. His thigh and back muscles stood out, without difficulty he jumped over the fence and pointed his horse at the trees.
As the Gemintang turned around, Heny looked at him with eyes full of curiosity. The nervous star held his chest. “I have to call some people, I'm going to the workspace,” muttered Gemintang before leaving the kitchen in a hurry. He was not able to resist drifting when he saw Raden, but he had to be very careful not to let anyone realize his attitude.
Before starting work, Gemintang contacted the hospital nurse in charge of looking after her husband. The nurse did not give much new information. “Master Thunder has not woken up, almost all night he slept well and only woke up once, but soon we gave him a sedative.”
“Thank you,” said Gemintang before disconnecting the phone and dialing Randy's phone number. “Is there anything I should do?” ask the lawyer. “Not that I want to be presumptuous, interfere in the personal affairs of Thunder, I just want to help to the extent that I can afford.”
“I never thought you were presumptuous,” said Randy softly. “Again that's your right."
“I don't think of myself. I just want the certainty of everything that concerns Laura and Raden.
The lawyer was silent. “I don't know all the wishes of Thunder. I swear, I don't know. He made a new will a few years ago, then he asked me to take care of it. I'm sure there'll be some stuff he made for you."
After finishing exchanging thoughts about some business matters, they said goodbye to each other.
As soon as he put the phone down, it rang. “Halo?”
“Mrs. Buana?”
The frenzied voice heard on the phone clearly indicated the phone was coming from the factory. “Ya.”
“I Andi. Remember that machine I told you about a few days ago? This morning the engine sounds very noisy, therefore we turn off.”
The starry rubbed his forehead. This kind of damage should not occur, because now production is high. Although only one machine was damaged, it disrupted the work of the workers and they could lose hours of production.
“I'll be there soon,” replied Gemintang quickly.
Buru‐buru Gemintang spent the rest of his coffee that was cold, then ran up to his room in the second floor. Half an hour later, he had already taken a shower and was dressed. The star is wearing a poplin skirt and a blouse of collared knit material. He wears low heels, his hair tied in a ponytail, then wrapped around a bright ribbon of color as a sweetener. Gemintang never wear fancy clothes to the factory. The reason, he wants his workers to consider themselves part of them, not just the boss' wife.
He told Heny, explaining where he was going. Then he picked up his wallet and ran to the front door. Raden had just pulled his horse, when he saw the Gemintang, Raden handed his horse to Adit who was waiting for him, then ran to Gemintang.
“Where to, rush‐hurry? To the hospital?”
From Raden's facial expression, Gemintang knew Raden thought his haste was due to his father's deteriorating condition. Although the two never get along well, Raden cares for his father too and does not like to see him suffer.
“No. I called the hospital this morning, said your daddy nurse had not woken up, and the nurse told me that all night your daddy was quite calm. I'm going to factory.”
“There's a problem?”
Raden nodded. “Severe?”
“It seems, because the foreman was forced to turn it off.” Gemintang saw Raden thinking hard and before considering further, he said, “You want to accompany me there, Raden?” Raden's eyes turned to the Gemintang, making the Gemintang have to swallow. “It's possible, if you see it, you know what the problem is. I need your help. If you ask for help from others, that person may be able to attract profits in situations like this.”
Raden stared at the Gemintang for so long and sharply, making the Gemintang think the man would reject his invitation. Then Raden reached out. “Let me drive.”
The star put his car keys into Raden's palm, then ran to the car, taking the opposite side. The way Raden drives the car is very, very aggressive. The sound of car tires squeaking loudly when deflected, gravel flying and dust billowing.
“This machine often crashes?” ask Raden to the Gemintang.
“Yes, several times.
“New‐new?”
“Ya.”
Gemintang hopes they can continue to talk about work, because being near Raden messes with his feelings. Raden's body smells like refreshing morning air, like the wind. The image of Raden sitting on a horse reappeared in his mind.
Still fresh in his memory, Raden comes to the usual place they meet, with his horse. The starry felt his body shrivel at the sight of an enormous horse. Raden laughed seeing the nervous Starlings and forced the girl to ride a horse with him. Raden lightly lifted the Gemintang body onto the horse's back. Lucky that day the Star wears a wide skirt so that she can sit astride.
Even today Gemintang still remember how it felt the horse's feathers touched his thighs that had already*ng, Raden's stomach that touched his hips when the man sat behind him, the up-and-down movement of Raden's thighs that touched his thighs, the sturdiness of his arms that held the rope of control when taking him around.
Raden's body felt warm and somewhat wet from sweat. Raden put his chin in his hair. Even he could still feel Raden's breath on his cheek, on his eyelids. He smelled the same scent today as he did twelve years ago.
Not much he remembered while riding a horse under the shady trees all he remembered was his chest pounding when he saw Raden put his hand on his thigh.
Now he observes Raden's hand holding the steering wheel.
What a beautiful hand. Dark-colored and sturdy, sleek and well-maintained. His nails were cut short. Smooth black feathers grow on the handbooks, the back of the hand, and the wrist.
“Let's help you get down,” Raden said, extending a hand to Gemintang.
The starter lowered his legs from the horse's back, his body slightly tilted and his hands on Raden's shoulders. Raden's hand held his lower arm as the Gemintang slowly descended from the horse's back. However, when the Gemintang's feet had already touched the ground, Raden did not let go of his grasp, muttering...
“Stars. Starfuck.”
Starry flinched, Raden's call not only existed in his imagination but actually happened at this time.
“What's up?” He looked at Raden, his anxiety unable to be hidden. His eyes were like misty and sad, remembering the closeness that had existed between them.
Raden stared at the starry star. “I asked if there is a special parking space for you.”
“Oh. Y-yeah. Door close. There is a sign.”
Raden directs the car to a place that says the name Gemintang on the asphalt and memati‐kan car engine. After that the Stargazer again saw Raden who was staring at him with a look of wonder. “Aready logged in?” Raden was not sure Gemintang was ready.
The stargazer felt he had to immediately distance himself from those sweet memories. "Yes," The star opened the car door and almost fell down in a hurry to get away from the car.
